No place for fakers - Zuma

BY CHARL BOSCH - AUGUST 14, 2014

President Jacob Zuma has called for tougher actions to be implemented against individuals who have been found guilty of falsifying their qualifications.

His announcement comes after a damning article in the Sunday Times, which revealed that the former Minister for Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan, had lied about his qualifications and never obtained an honorary doctorate, despite going by the title of ‘Dr’. Jordan has since resigned from Parliament and apologised for not telling the truth.

According to an article posted by iol.co.za, Zuma stated that people found guilty of faking their qualifications, would be excluded from the public sector. His response comes after the leader of the Congress of the People (COPE), Mosiuoa Lekota, had enquired as to whether a policy was in place that dealt with public servants found guilty of fakery.

“There is a system in place whereby applicants can be disqualified from employment in the public service. In cases where an applicant deliberately misrepresents their qualifications or withheld damaging information, such an act can establish acceptable grounds for the rejection of an application,” the website quoted Zuma as saying.

“All Public Servants are required to abide by the Code of Conduct. Failure to abide by this Conduct, results in disciplinary action and possible dismissal.”